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Cherry of Rio Grande
This beautiful small tree has very attractive dark glossy-green waxy leaves and a peeling bark. The showy white flowers are followed by deep purple plum sized fruit approximately 3 weeks from the time of flowering. The fruit is the most popular substitute for the traditional ‘Prunus’ Cherry for warmer climates. The fruit has a sweet juicy cherry flavour eaten fresh or can be picked at maturity , frozen for later use or used in jellies, jams and juices.
This compact tree is perfect for small back yard orchards as it is well suited to container growing, still producing an abundance of fruit even when kept as a potted bush. This is advantageous as the tree can then be easily netted during fruiting time as this tree is a favourite to the birds. The tree is highly ornamental requiring very little attention and pruning to keep it looking its best. It can also be used to make a hedge.
The Brazillian tree, member of the Myrtaceae, can reach up to 10 metres in its tropical forest environment, but most often reaches a comfortable height of 4-5m. They are moderately fast, preferring frequent but small balanced nutrient application and regularly watering during flowering and fruit development although the tree itself, if not expecting fruit quality in the drier years is fairly drought tolerance. The tree can tolerate temperatures down to zero degrees.
175mm pot | $19.75 AU | In Production | 
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 3-6 | High | Beneficial | Evergreen | September - December |
We welcome your Tips on Cherry of Rio Grande. Share Your Tip.
Great value little tree. Tough, reasonably fast, productive and ornamental. Needs decent watering until established. Fertilise with dynamic lifter, apply potash late Winter, mulch well. Delicious fruit. Makes good wine and fruit puddings. | David White - Newcastle, NSW 28-May-2006
Will this fruit in half shade? | Catherine Scott - Surrey Hills, VIC 20-Apr-2009
Its says high frost tolerance but alos says ok to zero degrees. Has anyone had experience growing these in areas where it gets to about -5? Thank you! | Len - Canberra, ACT 31-Jul-2009
Photograph contributed by: Gomera Schrader from the Tropical Fruit Garden in the Canary Islands. See: http://personales.mundivia.es/schrader_gomera/english.htm
Updated: 22nd of November, 2010 at 12:08pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright